Hosiery holder



Aug. 31,1926. 1,598,510

W. J. STEERE HOSIERY HOLDER Filed No1/.'24, 1925 z sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 31 1926. 1,598,510

w. J. STEERE HOSIERY HOLDER Filed Nov. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 umnmn Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. STEERE, OF ROCKWOOD, TENNESSEE.

I-IOSIERY HOLDER.

Application filed November 24, 1925i.

The present invention relates to apparel aplniratus, and more particularly to a device for holding hosiery to permit the turning of the ends to form cuffs.

In the manufacture of stockings having turned tops, particularly golf hose and childrens stockings having fancy tops, it is customary to perform the operation of turning the top to produce a cuff entirely without the assistance of apparatus. This entirely manual operation is objectionable for the reason that the hands often stretch and distort the stocking, and, moreover, not infrequently the cuffs are unevenly folded and are not of uniform length on the different stockings.

The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus upon which the stocking may be readily fitted and retained for the formation of the cuff, and which is constructed to prevent objectionable stretching or distortion of the stocking and to insure the even formation of cuffs of uniform width.

Other objects of the invention, such as a structure which may be readily operated and is of simple construction, thereby enalfiling it to be manufactured at moderate cost, will become clear as the description proceeds in connection with a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein Figure l is a side elevational view.

Figure 2 is a top plan, showing the parts in the position which they assume when the stocking is placed thereon.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the linel of Figure 2.

Figure L1 is a vertical section on the line 4. of FigurcB, and

Figure 5 is a perspective showing one of the holding lingers. I

' leferring to the drawings for a more detailed description, 10 indicates a working table or other suitable means upon which the device may be positioned. rlhe holder comprises a support or pedestal 11, having a base in the form of a flange 12 through which retaining screws 13 may be inserted into the tabie. The pedestal 11 has a relatively flat top 111-, upon which is mounted a pair of laterally extending guide strips 15, which parallel and abut guide ribs 16, 17, upon the under surfaces of shanks 18, 18 of two 'forwardly projecting` finge-rs 19, 20. The fingers, it will be observed, are positioned closely together in substantially parallel relation and in a common horizontal plane to fit within the end of a stocking.

Serial N'o. 71,218.

Means is provided for moving them together and apart, such means, in the present instance, comprising a rotatable shaft 21 eX- tending upwardly through a central aperture in the pedestal 11 and carrying a rotatable head or plate 22. The plate and lingers are provided with co-acting wedge means, so that when the shaft 21 is operated, the fingers will be moved together and apart, depending upon the direction of rotation. This means comprises, preferably, a pair of arcuate slots 23 disposed on substantially opposite sides of the axis of the shaft and each slot receives a roller 24 upon a stud 25, fixed to one of the finger shanks. The slots Si are so disposed with respect to the studs and to the axis of the plate, that they serve as wedge means for separating and moving together the fingers 19, 20, and it will' be understood that these fingers have a bodily and rectilinear movement, thus insuring that they separate a uniform distance throughout their length., or, in other words, throughout the portion which projects forwardly from the support and are adapted to fit within the stocking.

The bodily movement of the fingers apart a uniform distance throughout their lengths and without disturbing their parallel relation is important, since a pivotal movement, for instance, would separate the forward ends of the fingers a g 1eater distance than the portions nearer the Shanks, and hence stretch the stockingmore where it overlies the iinger ends; and when the end of the stocking is folded to form the cuff the foldedv over portion would be still further stretched, due to the greater separation of the ends of stantially U-shaped plate bent, at 28, and

having` the end of its underlength 29 turned downwardly and secured at 30 to the top 141-. of the pedestal. The upper length 31 of the housing` has its end 32 secured toy a cover plate 33 disposed `over the finger Shanks to cover the operating mechanism.

As will be understood, the fingers are nor- 'mally arranged within the housing, so that a stocking may be freelyy slipped over the fabric.

housing and fingers. llien this operation is completed, the shaft 2l is rotated to separate the fingers and effect gripping relation between the latter and the stocking. In order to effect a positive engagement between the stocking and the fingers to prevent the stocking from slipping while the cuff is being turned down, the lingers may be provided with roughened portions 33. Ordinarily, the end of the stocking which is drawn to the rear of the finger serratioiis will be turned back over the portion of the stocking which is engaged by the serrations, thus forming the cuff, and thereafter the fingers may be withdrawn into the housing. Since the housing is relatively smooth and the fingers are entirely withdrawn therein, the stocking may be freely removed from the device without disturbing the formed cuff. I

It will be noted that the fingers are roughened for only a limited distance, thus leaving the portion of the stocking overlying the remainder of the fingers free to be folded over the body of the stocking, there being no positive engagement between the nonroughened portions of the fingers and the rIlhe line of fold will ordinarily coincide with the rear end of the roughened or serrated linger portion.

Any suitable means may be provided for actuating the shaft 2l. In the present instance, this means comprises a treadle 34 pivoted at beneath the table, and having a fiexible connection 3G with a pulley 37 upon the lower end of the shaft beneath the table. The connection extends upwardly over a sheave 3S supported by a bracket 39, and is secured by means of a pin 37 to the pulley. To maintain the treadle in raised position and the fingers 19, 20, within the housing 27, a spring l0 is secured at ll to the pulley 37 and is anchored at its other end i-2 to any rigid member, such as the bracket 39. It will be understood that depression of the treadle 34e to move the fingers 19, 20, apart and thereby engage the stocking, serves to tension the spring l0, and as soon as pressure is removed from the treadle, which, of course, takes place after the formation of the cuff, the spring 40 will rotate the shaft 21 in a reverse direction and draw the fingers within the housing 27, thus permitting' the stocking to be withdrawn from the device. Obviously, the operation might be reversed so that the spring 40 would maintain the fingers exposed and the treadle be operative for moving the fingers together to permit the stocking to be drawn over the fingers.

It will be understood, of course, that numerous modifications may be made in the structure which is illustrated and described without departing from the invention, the

structure of the same being set forth in detail merely for purposes of illustration.

I claim l. A stocking holder comprising a pair of separable fingers adapted to be inserted into the end of a stocking or the like, a cover plate for said lingers of substantially greater width than the two fingers when the latter are not spread, said plate being adapted to be inserted with the fingers into a stocking, and means for spreading the fingers to project the same beyond the lateral edges of the plate, said fingers having forward por tions formed for adhering engagement with a stocking fabric spaced from the end of the stocking, and the portions to the rear thereof, which fit within the stocking end, constructed to permit free folding and sliding movement of the stocking end to form a cuff.

2. A stocking holder comprising a pair of separable fingers adapted to be inserted into the end of a stocking or the like, a cover plate for said fingers of substantially greater width than the two fingers when the latter are not spread, said plate being adapted to be inserted with the fingers into a stocking, and means for separating the fingers a substantially uniform distance throughout their length and moving them beyond the lateral edges of the plate, forward portions of said fingers being roughened to prevent sliding movement of the fabric when a stocking cuff is folded and the portions of the fingers to the rear thereof and which fit within the stocking end being` relatively smooth.

3. A device for holding hosiery to permit the turning of cuffs, comprising a support, a pair of lingers on said support and projecting therefrom substantially in parallelism, and means for moving said fingers apart bodily, said means comprising a rotatable plate, and pins positioned on said fingers, said plate having arcuate slots eccentric with respect to the aXis of said plate receiving said pins, whereby rotation of said plate carrying the pins will move the fingers together and apart.

4. A device for holding hosiery to permit the turning of cuffs comprising a support, a pair of fingers on said support projecting therefrom and adapted to be positioned together for insertion within the open end of a stocking and to be moved apart, and means for moving said fingers apart, said means comprising a rotatable shaft, a flat plate on said shaft rotatable therewith on said support, and means on said plate engaging said fingers.

5. A device for holding hosiery to permit the turning of cuffs comprising a support, a pair of fingers on said support projecting therefrom and adapted to be positioned together for insertion within the open end of CII a stocking and to be moved apart, a housing adapted to be inserted Within the stocking with said lingers, and in Which said lingers are positioned when not moved apart, and means con'iprising a rotatable shalt, a llat plate on said shalt rotatable therewith on said support, and means on said lingers engaging said plate.

G. A device tor holding hosiery to permit the turning of cutis comprising a support, a Jair of lingers on said support projecting tierelrom and adapted to be positioned together lor .insertion within the open end ot a stocking and to be moved apart, a housing adapted to be inserted within the stocking with said lingers, and in which said lingers are positioned when not moved apart, and means 'for moving said lingers apart, said means con'iprising a rotatable shalt and a liat plate on said shalt rotatable therewith, and pins on said linger, said plate having slots therein receivingl said pins and disposed eecentrically with respect to the axis ot titi?A plate to ellect movement ol the lingers toward and trom one another upon rotation ot said plate.

7. A device tor holding hosiery to permit the turning ol cults comprising a support, a pair oit lingers on said support projecting therefrom and adapted to be positioned together for insertion Within the open end ot a stocking and to be moved apart, a housing adapted to be inserted Within the stocking with said lingers, and in which said lingers are positioned when not moved apart, and means for moving said lingers apart, said means comprising a rotatable shalt, a flat plate on said shalt rotatable therewith, pins on said lingers, said plate having slots therein to receive said pins and disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis ot the plate to effect movement or" the lingers toward and trom one another when the plate is rotated, said lingers being movable bodily on said support, whereby to separate them unilormly throughout their entire length.

8. A device lor holding hosiery to permit the turning of calls comprising a support, a pair of lingers on said support projecting therefrom and adapted to be positioned together lor insertion Within the open end ot a stocking and to be moved apart, a housing adapted to be inserted Within the stocking with said lingers, and in Which said lingers are positioned when not moved apart, and means lier moving said lingers apart, said means comprising a rotatable shalt, a flat plate on said shaft rotatable therewith, pins on said linger, said plate having slots therein to receive said pins and so disposed With respect to the path ol movement oi the plate to eliect movement ol the lingers toward and from one another when the plate is rotated, said lingers being movable bodily on said support, whereby to separate them uniformly throughout their entire length, and guide means lor insuring rectilinear movement of said lingers.

In testimony Whereoll l have hereunto set my hand.

l/VILLIAM J. STEERE. 

